Overview

What's happening to the bees?

Sam needs to find a seventh-grade science fair project and a way to save the restaurant where his father works. When he enrolls three friends in an effort to raise bees on a hotel roof in New York City, the complications multiply. Bee sting allergies, a great bee die-off, a rival team's cheating, a mysteriously reclusive science teacher, and Sam's romantic feelings for a classmate make the bee project anything but simple. This story includes lots of facts about bees and Colony Collapse Disorder.

Reviews

"Honey bees are endlessly fascinating creatures, with complex social organization, symbolic dance language, and altruistic behavior. Recent declines in honey bee populations worldwide have also raised our awareness of how important they are for pollinating our agricultural crops and maintaining a healthy and balanced environment. Bees on the Roof is a wonderful introduction into the world of bees, and the beekeepers who care for them. As anyone who has kept bees knows, caring for these complex creatures is both extremely challenging and rewarding. Indeed, what starts as a 'simple' science project for Sam and his friends turns into a life-changing journey, and their xperiences with their colonies of honey bees help them learn about themselves, each other, their families, their community, and their world." —Christina Grozinger, Distinguished Professor, Entomology; Director, Center for Pollinator Research, Pennsylvania State University

Author Biography

Robbie Shell is a Philadelphia-based writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She has long admired honeybees for their teamwork, waggle dancing and ability to make a home on every continent except Antarctica. This is her first work of fiction.